Visit Indonesia

Padang, meaning field, with a population of over 700,000 people is in Western Sumatra on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Padang is the Regional capital of West Sumatra, the 3rd largest city in Sumatra. Originally a port for traders of gold, spices and timber. With a lot of trade with China many Chinese immigrated to Padang so the town has an amazing China Town with many restaurants and spice shops.

Off the coast from Padang are many beautiful islands which can be visited for snorkeling, fishing or just relaxing on the white sandy beaches. A ferry can be caught to the island of Cubadak or Pulau Cubadak or to the Mentawai Islands including Siberut Island.

The most famous food dish from Padang is the beef randang.

Vihara Buddha Warman

Along the beachside road, just down from the Tourist Information office is a Buddhist Temple, Vihara Buddha Warman, opened in 2006 for the large Chinese Buddhist community, was built in 1861 and then renovated by Major Lee Say after a fire in 1897. Intil now this temple is of interest to tourists and also near to the centre of old  Padang.

Vihara Budha Warman Padang

Warman = Light, illuminative

Budha Warman means Light of Budha

Padang Old Town

Padang Old Town, or Padang Lama, is the old part of Padang lined with colonial Dutch buildings that are still intact along Batang Arau River. The harbour along the river was once a very important port until the 19th century. Across the river is Padang Hill, the first settlement before Padang developed into a town.
Just east is Pasar Batipuh and Pasa Gadung which was formally the market place. The buildings now are used for warehouses for spices. A little west is China town with the main street being Pondok, also with old buildings including an old Buddhist temple with Chinese architecture, over 200 years old.

Padang Hill and Siti Nurbaya Park

Across from the Arau River is the Siti Nurbaya Park which can reached by bridge or boat. There are still remains of Japanese canons and bunkers from World War II. There are great views back over Padang city, Arau River and the Indian ocean.

Bungus Bay
Bungus Bay is located 25kms south of Padang and can be reached by mini bus in 45 minutes. Bungus Beach is on a beautiful calm bay with white sandy beaches. From here visitors can hire a boat to the nearby islands.

The islands close by have some excellent coral reefs for snorkeling or diving. There are boat excursions out to these islands which cost around IDR 250,000 including lunch.

There are a few small hotels in Bungus Bay with bungalows on the beach. The best place to stay is Carlo’s which have cabins on the beach for around IDR 200,000 per night.

Air Manis Beach

Air Manis Beach, Padang

Closely related to the legend of Malin Kundang in West Sumatra, has a fascination with the beautiful beach waves that roll breezy. When blown coastal breeze, hear the gentle sound waves through the beach, so create a feel of the cool and serene. Not far from the lips beach, an island that appears to stand with classyness so interesting to visit. The island known as Pisang island (Pulau Pisang), it looks like consists of 2 islands (Pisang Ketek and Pisang Gadang), actually they are only one joined island. At this island, the tourists will see many monkeys that hang around, although live in the wildness, monkeys do not disrupt the tourists. From morning to afternoon, you can walk to this one hectare island through shallow water. In late afternoon, however, there is a tide and you must take a boat to return.

Air Manis beach sand that has brown albescent spread wide and the sloping edge along the coast. Therefore, this beach is very suitable place for a picnic, play waves, surfing and camping.

 
Musiduga, Sijunjung Regency

Sijunjung District has plenty of interesting place to visit. You will find a beautiful natural scenery, history and culture places and exciting adventure trip that you can’t find no elsewhere. Travelling along Musiduga (Muaro – Silokek – Durian Gadang), we can do very challenging rafting, explore caves, sport climbing, enjoy the natural hot spring and find the historical trace of Romusha time (romusha = forced labor during Japanese colonial period)